Common Entrance English 2014

 

2014 ENGLISH STUDIES (NCEE) Time allowed: 60 minutes

SECTION A COMPREHENSION

 

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E

PASSAGE I

There were three activities Musa enjoyed so much while growing up. These were recitation of nursery rhymes, which increased his retentive memory, playing of football, which enhanced his physical fitness and storytelling which boosted his thinking ability and taught him several moral lessons. Of all these, his favourite was story telling.

His friend, Ibe, on the other hand, liked watching cartoon network and playing violet video games and films. He concentrated more on violet video games. To him, children should play more of violent video games because they make a child smart and creative. More so, they bring about quick thinking and fast decision-making.

One day, Musa and Ibe met in school during break time and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of those activities they liked. Musa succeeded in discouraging his friend from playing and watching violent video games and films. This was done by telling Ibe a short story about Clinton, an American boy who picked a gun and shot his father as a result of what he learned through playing and watching violent video games. His father died and Clinton regretted his action. Apart from this obvious fact, other reasons why Musa disliked violent video games were that they teach kids the wrong values such as aggressive behavior and vengeance. They also corrupt the mind. Once listening to this short story, Ibe vowed never to play or watch violent video games and films again.

1.      Which of the activities is Musa’s favourite? A. playing football   b. playing of video games   C. Recitation of nursery rhymes    D. story telling   E. Watching films

2.      According to the passage _____ shot his father   A. A child   B. A friend   C. Clinton   D. Ibe  D. Musa

3.      Another word that can replace disliked as it is used in the passage is   A. Hated  B. Loved C. Shunned  D. Wanted  E. Watched

4.      Ibe was used to   A. Catching fun   B. Talking to Musa  C. Telling story  D. Watching football  E. Watching violent films

5.      Musa liked football because it   A. Boosted his thinking ability  B. enhanced his physical fitness   C. increased his retentive memory   D. Made him smart and creative   E. Taught him several moral lessons

Passage II

Hand washing is the single most important thing that you can do to help prevent the spread of infection and stay healthy. As much as 80 percent of infections are said to be passed on by unclean hands. So, wash them often throughout the day. Do so especially before eating, cooking food, and after dressing or touching a wound, touching an animal, using the toilet, or changing a baby’s diaper. Washing with soap and water is more effective than using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Children stay healthier when parents train them to wash their hands and to keep them away from their mouths and eyes. Bathing every day and keeping your clothes and bed linens fresh and clean also contribute to better health.

Culled from Awake

6.      If we wash our hands regularly, we will be able to  A. Change a baby’s diaper   B. Clean toilets well   C. Prepare delicious food  D. prevent spread of infection  E. Touch and dress wounds

7.      Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?  A.  Bathing once in two months contribute to good health    B. children who wash their hands often fall sick      C. Hands should be washed before using the toilet     D. Keeping clothes fresh and clean promotes better health    E. parents who teach their children to wash their hands encourage unhealthy habit

8.      “So, wash them often….” What does the underlined word refer to?  A. Diaper  B. Eyes  C. Hands  D. Mouths  E. Toilets

9.      Hand washing is more effective using ___ and ___  A. Alcohol, sanitizers    B. Alcohol, soap  C. Sanitizers, water  D. soap, water  E. water, alcohol

10.  A word that can replace linen as used in the passage is  A. Clothes   B. Napkin  C. Nets  D. Sheets  E. Towels

Section B: Lexis

Choose from the options lettered A – E, the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics (Nos. 11 – 15).

11.  John went to the bookshop to buy his textbooks   A. Borrow  B. collect  C. purchase  D. receive  E. sell

12.  We have packed out of the old house   A. Come  B. Gone  C. Jumped  D. moved  E. parked

13.  The hunter was afraid when he saw the lion  A. Angry  B. Bold  C. Brave  D. Happy  E. Scared

14.  The teacher taught the pupils how to make baskets with paper.  A. Create   B. Draw  C. Mend  D. Paint  E. Sew

15.  Jane’s mother bought her a Christmas dress that was Costly.    A. Beautiful  B. Cheap C. Expensive   D. Ugly  E. Wonderful

Complete each of the following statements with the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in italics  NOs 16 – 20 ).

16.  The cook made us a pot of sweet tea   A. bitter  B. Creamy   C. delicious  D. smelly   E. tasty

17.  Sam’s mother praised him for failing the examination  A. blamed  B. Celebrated   C. Congratulated  D. honoured   E. thanked

18.  The tortoise has always been a foolish animal.  A. cunning   B. greedy   C. loyal   D. stupid   E. wise

19.  The patient felt terrible after the operation.  A. bad   B. good   C. guilty   D. lucky  E. Satisfied

20.  My sister would be leaving for Canada soon .  A. At once   B. early  C. Immediately    D. Later   E. Now

Section C: Structure

Complete each of the following statements with most appropriate of the options lettered A – E (Nos. 21 – 40)

21.  The superlative form of Sweet is    A. most sweet   B. Most sweeter   C. Much sweet  D. Sweeter  E. Sweetest

22.  Their parents are rich, so are   A. mine   B. My   C.  Them  they  E. Us

23.  She met us when we ____ to her house.   A. are going   B. Go   C. Had gone  D. was Going   E. were going

24.  Bisi and Bola ____ down the lawn every morning   A. Are running  B. has run   C. Ran   D. run  E. runs  

25.  Sarah is the ___ intelligent of the three girls.  A. Best   B. Better  C. Less  D. More  E. most

26.  The boy ____ blue shirt is my brother   A. In   B. inside   C. On   D. Under   E. With 

27.  ____ Jane or Juliet will have the toy  A. although  B. both  C. either  D. neither  E. until

28.  The word “present” will change to an adjective by adding the suffix   A. able   B. ed   C. ing   D. ly  E. s

29.  Ngozi bought her aunt a ____ present.  A. wedding  B. weddinng  C. weding  D. weeding  E. welding  

30.  My shoes are made ____ leather.  A. by  B. from C. in  D. of   E. on

31.  The students are happy ___ their result  A. about  B. for  C. on  D. over  E. up

32.  I love my sisters but ____ of them is alive.  A. all  B. both  C. each   D. either E. none

33.  Simon is not in the class, he may ___ to the toilet  A. be going  B. go  C. have been going    D. have gone  E. going

34.  The girl is dancing, ____ she? A. Didn’t   B. does   C. isn’t  D. is  E. won’t

35.  ___ leaving the hospital, Mary called her father  A. although  B. because  C. before  D. nevertheless   E. though

36.  The governor appointed the ____ last week  A. chaiman   B. chairman  C. cheerman   D. cheimans   E. cheirman

37.  Only ____ people attended the meeting last month  A. a few  B. a little  C. few  D. much  E. one

38.  The article “a” can be used with the following EXCEPT   A. house   B. sheet  C. shoe  D. umbrella  E. pen

39.  She ___ table tennis very well.  A. has play   B. had play  C. has being play  D. is playing  E. plays

40.  Grave asked, “ ___ is my bag?  A. it   B. this  C. what  D. when  E. where